Apparatus for heat treating rails



Sept. 6, 1938.

P. HUNTER, .l

APPARATUS FOR HEAT TREATINGRAILS 4 Sheets-Sheet v l Filed May 13, 1937Sept; 6, 193s.

P. HUNTER, JR

APPARATUS FOR HEAT TREATING RAILS Filed May 13. 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Pme/w fammi/zz -ATTORNEY sept. 6, 193s.

P. HUNTER, JR

APPARATUS FOR HEAT TREATING RAILS Filed May l5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5INVE'NTOR` www am@ BY ATTORNEY Sept. 6, 1938. P. HUNTER, JR

APPARATUS RoR HEAT TREATING RAILS Filed May 13, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4AAM h IM fg @e INVENTOR PER/KIZ md? ATTORNEY Patented Sepe e, 193s'UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE Oxweld Vtion of Delaware Service Company,a www Application May 13, 1937, Serial No. 142,434 15 Claims. (Cl.288-5) This invention relates to apparatus for heat treating the treadsurfaces of rails, especially at 5 hardening tread surface areas withhigh temperature heating names.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improvedapparatus of the character speciiied which is easily constructed, of lminimum weight and emcient in operation. Another object is to providesuch an improved apparatus having heating units for each rail of atrack, so as to avoid the necessity of shifting the entire apparatus inproceeding along va. section of l track which is being heat treated.Other and more specific objects are: to provide such an ap-- paratus inwhich the heating units are mounted upon an operating structure orsupporting frame, said operating structure being pivotally mounted 2upon a primary frame structure which is adapted to be moved along thetrack; to provide means for oscillating and adjusting the heating unitssimultaneously; to provide improved means for controlling the gasessupplied to the heating unit; and to provide improved means for movingthe apparatus along the track being treated.

The above and other objects and novel features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description, having reference to theaecompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. l and 2 are respectively front elevational and plan views of oneform of apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention;

A Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of a major portion of the apparatusshown in Fig. l;vv

Fig. is a. vertical sectional view of the apparatus, taken along theline 4--4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a ditic view, corresponding approximately to the line 6-6 oi'Fig. 3, and showing particularly the location ot the heating tips withrespect to a rail joint; Figs. 'i and 8 are respectively plan and irontelevational views of a modiiied form of primary frame structure uponwhich the operating structure shown in Fig. 1 may be pivotally mounted;and

Fig. 9 is a plan view, mainly diagrammatic., of

a modified arrangement of the gas controlling devices.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the improved rail heat treating machinecomprises a primary frame structure or carriage A and an operating o rsecondary frame structure B pivotally mount Y rigid.' construction.

ed thereon. The main frame or carriage A is adapted to rest upon and bemoved along rails R of a section oi track, while'the operating structurelB carries a heating unit at each side thereof. a unit Hnbeing locatedover the left hand rail 5 of the track and a second unit HR located overthe right hand rail of the track. yIt will be noted that the operatingstructure B also carries gaa controlling devices C substantially at thecenter thereof and located for ready access by the opl0 erator.

It is desired to have the entire apparatus of a light and portable, butnevertheless sturdy and Thus, the carriage A may be composed ofsuitable'light weight welded tub 15 ing formed into a box-like shapecomprising upper and lower transverse horizontally disposed members orbraces Il, connected by longitudinal horizontally disposed braces Il anda plurality of vertically disposed braces 12. At each of the four 20corners of the carriage A shoes or rests i3 are secured by means ofbolts il threadedly engaged in the ends of the transverse horizontallydisposed braces I8. Said shoes have suitable heat and wear resistantsoles or bearing plates I5 at- 25 tached thereto with bolts i6 andcompletely insulated electrically therefrom as to prevent any improperoperation of the track signalling system. Flanges i511 may be providedon the bearing plate at one side of the machine at least 30 so as to aidin positioning 'the heating units Hr. and Ha with respect to the railsiL-eing treated.

It will be observed that the shoes it are of a rigid angularconstruction and form. an efficient stationary support for the entiremachine when 35 performing a heat treating operation. However', in orderto allow the machine to be moved from one rail joint to the next, theshoes I3, at the rear of the machine, may be provided with suitableextensions or brackets Il rigidly supported by 40 braces Ila and havingbearing portions Il (Figs.

2 and 3) for receiving the axles of flanged wheels I9 on which theentire machine may be wheeled along the track. To facilitate in thisoperation, angularly disposed handle bars 1l 45 may be welded to thebraces ii of the carriage A and strengthened by vertical supports 2|(Fig. 4) and a horizontal brace 22. The ilanged wheels Il and theirsupporting brackets Il are arranged so that when the machine is restingupon the 50 shoes I3, the wheels i9 will not contact the tread surfacesof the rail (see Fig. 3) By bearing down on the handle bars 2U, however,the apparatus will be fulcrumed upon the rear shoes i3 and bring thewheels I! into contact with the rail. 55

' a general sense, comprises three transverse tubular members or braces25 which are positioned'at the corners of a triangle and welded orotherwise xedly secured at their opposite ends to end plates 26. 'Bymeans of inwardly extending bosses or lugs 21 provided on the uppercorners of the plates 26, the operating structure B is slidably mountedon two shafts 28, one of said shafts being located at each side of theapparatus. The opposite ends of yeach of the shafts 28 are journailed inbearings 29 provided on the upper ends of four vertically disposedsupporting arms 30. At its lower end, each of the arms 30 is pivotallyattached by means of a pin or bolt 3| to a lug 32 provided on the innerlower corner of the adjacent shoe i3. From the foregoing' it will beapparent that by means of the arms 30 the entire structure B ispivotally mounted for oscillatory' or reciprocatory movement upontheprimary sup'- porting frame' A. Such movement of the operatingstructure is desired for imparting a corresponding Aoscillatory movementto the heating units Hr. and Ha which, as mentioned above and will bedescribed more particularly hereinafter, are carried on each side of theoperating structure B.

In order torimpart an oscillating or reciprocat- -ing movement to theoperating structure B a lever 331s pivoted upon a bracket 34 which issecured to one of the handle bars 20.' The forward end of the lever 33is pivotally connected to one end of a link 35, the other end of whichis pivotally secured upon the rearward end of one of the shafts 28.Thus, by moving the lever 33 from side to side the operating structuremay be oscillated. It is desirable to limit this movement, however, andfor accomplishing this purpose a U-shapedyoke 36 is provided on orformed integrally with the upper end of one of the shoes I3, as bestshown in Figs. 2 and 3. The arms of this yoke are positioned on eitherside of the adjacent supporting arm 30 so that as said arm 3U pivotsabout its associated pin 3i during the oscillating movement it will belimited in its movement by contact with the arms ofthe yoke. Adjustmentof the oscillating movement may be eiected by means of adjusting vscrews31 provided in the arms of the yoke. By moving4 these screws inwardlyAor outwardly, the effective distance between the arms of the yoke may bevaried, thereby varying'the amplitude of the oscillatory movement of theframe B.

The heating units Hr. and HR may be of any suitable construction inwhich a source of high temperature heat, such as an Oxy-fuel gas flame,an electric arc or the like, is utilized to heat the body of metal beingtreated. Those shown in the kpresent instance are similar in generalconstruction and operation to the heating unit disclosed in H. S. Georgeapplication, Serial No. 25,567, filed June 8, 1935. Thus, as shownparticularly in Figs. 3 and 5, each of the units Hr. and Ha comprisestwo heating heads or manifolds 48 and 4I which are adapted to beconnected to a convenient source of gaseous fuel by means of hollowtubular connections 42 and 43 respectively. Three nozzles or heatingtips 44 are mounted in the underside of each of the manifolds and 4Iwith two of each group of nozzles disposed adjacent and above the insideedges of the abutting rails R, and the remaining one disposed adjacentand above the outside edge, so that substantially triangular ortrapezoidal shaped heat treated areas may be produced in the treadsurfaces (see Fig. 6)

One of the heating heads is preferably adjust- .able longitudinally ofthe rails R with respect to the other, and both of said. heads arevertically adjustable so as to vary or adjust the distance between theends ofthe nozzles and the tread surfaces of the rails R. To this endthe tubular connections 42 'and 43 are clamped between the sections ofsplit holding blocks 45 and 45 respectively, the sections of said blocksbeing held together by means of thumb screws 41 so as to maintain theheating heads in any adjusted vertical position. 'I'he block 45 issecured to the plate 25 by means of an angular bracket 48 bolted to saidplate and welded to said block. However, the block 45 is slidablymounted on guide rods 50 xed in the block 45, and is movable foradjust'- ment on said rods by means of a positioning screw 5I which isthreadedly engaged in the block 45 and journalled in a plate or bar 52connecting the ends of the guide rods.

With the above described construction one of the heating heads may beadjusted longitudinally of the rail with respect to the other. However,rather'than having'to rely upon a positioning of the entire apparatus inorder to locate the fixed heating heads properly with respect to the endof a rail joint, it is desirable to make some provision for moving theoperating structure B longitudinally with respect to the rails.Accordingly, a shaft 54 having handles 55 at each end thereof isjournalled in suitable bearings provided in each of the plates 26 and,as shown in Fig. 3, is located below the shafts 28. Pinions 56 aremounted on opposite ends of the shaft 54 for engagement with suitablerack teeth 51 provided on the lower side of each of the shafts 28. Thisconstruction is shown in Figs. 3 and 5, where it will be seen that byturning either of the handles 55 the operating structure'B may be movedalong the shafts 28 so that the fixed heating head 40 may be located inthe desired position with respect to the end of a rail when starting aheat treating operation.

When the heating units are in operation. the flames issuing from theblowpipe nozzles 44 are reflected back from the tread surface of therail and cause said nozzles to become overheated. To

lprevent any backring which may'occur as a result of the preignition ofthe gases before issuing from .the orifices of the nozzles 44, asuitable copper baille plate 58 may be provided between the nozzles ofeach blowpipe and, as shown in Fig. 3, is adjustably and removablysuspended from the guide rods by means oi supporting arms 53. Thisbaille is adapted to increase the circulation of air about the nozzlesand remove heat from the region of said nozzles, it preferably being ofthe type disclosed in the application of H. S. George, led December 24,1936,' Serial No. 117,506.

Gases maybe supplied to the heating units from any suitable source. Forexample, oxygen and acetylene cylinders, together with suitable pressureregulators, may be carried on a push car which isl adapted to travelalong .the track as the heat treating operations progress. Flexible tub#ing in suiicient lengths is provided to connect such cylinders with thegas controlling devices C Y on the apparatus, an acetylene tube 68 beingconnected to 'an acetylene inlet 6| and an oxygen tube 62 beingconnected to an oxygen inlet 63.

Separate gas controls are provided for each of the heating units Hr. andHR, although the gas pressures are regulated at the supply cylinders.Accordingly, as shown in Figs.V 1 and 2, the gases supplied to theheating unit HR are-controlled by an acetylene shut-off valve l64 and anoxygen shut-off valve 65, which are connected to their respectiveacetylene and oxygen inlets 6i and 63. The two. valves areinterconnected for simultaneous actuation by means of a handle 66 andare mounted in a convenient location for ready access bythe operator onthe left hand portion of the.

upper side of a rectangular sheet metal housing 61. This housing 61 isin` turn secured' to the 4upper braces 25 of the operating framestructure B by means of brackets 68. A suitable conduit 18 connects theaceytlene shut-oli valve 64 with the lower portion of a mixer 1| carriedby a specal supporting bracket 12 which is secured to the braces 25 inany convenient manner. Acetylene passes through this lower portion-ofthemixer 1I, withoutbeing mixed with any owgen, into a coil 13comprising an elongated tubular conduit, the opposite end of which isconnected to the central or lmixing portion of the mixer 1|. This coil13 greatly improves the flashback resistance of the heating apparatusandsis disposed inside of the housing 61 in order that it may not becomebattered or broken during handling df the machine while in operation.Oxygen passes direct- 1y from the valve 65 tothe mixer through a conduit14 and is there properly 'mixed with the acetylene so that a suitablecombustible mixture may be led from the mixer Il to the heating unit HR.For this purpose, a conduit 15 connects the outlet side of the mixerwith a Y-iltting or connection 16 from which branch conduits 11 and 18lead the combustible mixture to the tubular connections 42 and 43respectively of the heating unit Ha.

Similarly, the gases for the heating unit Hx. are controlled by anacetylene shut-oif valve 88 connected to the inlet 6I and a shut-oilvalve 8| connected to the inlet 63, which valves are simultaneouslyactuated by means of a handle 82. Acetylene passes from the valve 88through a conduit 83 to the lower portion of a mixer 84 which issupported upon the frame B by a special bracket 84a (Fig. 4). From themixer the acetylene passes through a coil or elongated conduit 86,

similar to the coil 13, and then back to the mixer.

The coil 85 is disposed in the housing 61 on the side thereof adjacentto the handles 66 and 82 as sho'wn in Fig. 4. Oxygen is led directly tothe mixer 84 from the valve 8l by means of a conduit 86, and thecombustible mixture passes from the outlet side of the mixer 84 througha conduit 81 to a Y-fitting or connection 88. Branch conduits 98 and 9|lead the combustible mixture from the outlet side of the tting 88 to thetubular connections 42 and 43 respectively of the heating unit From theforegoing it will be noted thatv the handle 82, on the right hand sideof the housing 61, controls the gas supply forA the heating unit HL;while the handle 66, on the left hand side of the housing 61, controlsthe gas supply for the heating unit Ha. Should it be desired to controlthe gases for the heating units Ha and Hx. from the right and left handshut-olf valves respectively, the conduits and mixers may be rearrangedas shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9, wherein like reference charactersindicate corresponding parts shown in.Figs. 1, 2, and 4. It will benoted that the valves 80 and 8|, mounted on the right hand side of thehousing 61, lead the acetylene and oxygento the mixer 84 from which thecombustible mixture is led to the Y-iitting 88 which, in this instance,is connected to the heating unit Ha; and the valves 64 and 65 controlthe flow of acetylene and oxygen directly togthe mixer 1|, from whichthe combustible mixture is led to the Y- connection 16 for the heatingunit H1.. This arrangement of the gas controlling devices may beconsidered preferable to that described above since it tends to avoidany confusion during the operation of the heat treating apparatus. l

For igniting the combustible gas mixture at the nozzles 44,a pilotburner P may be employed. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, such a burnermay comprise the end of a metallic tubing 82 which is disposed adjacentthe nozzles and supported from the plate 26 by means of a bracket 83.tubing 82 extends upwardly and towards the center of the machine to apush button 84 which isvpart of a partially open'valve connectedto theacetylene inlet 6I by means of a conduit 85.

.Push button 84 is provided for opening the partially open valve furtherwhen it is desired to increase the size of the continuously burningpilot flame to ignite the gas at the nozzles 44.

The method of operating the above described heat treating apparatus issubstantially as follows: In heat treating tread surface areas at railjoints in a section of track, certain preliminary adjustments are madebefore vheat treating the iilst rail joint. When the apparatus is placedupon a section of track, the joints of which are to be heat'treated, it-is moved on the wheels I8 and brought to rest with one of the heatingunits positioned directly over the ilrst rail joint to be treated.Assuming that the iirst olnt to be treated is in the right hand rail R,the entire apparatus is shifted by sliding on the shoes I3 until theflange l5a is in contact with the side of the bolts i6 and therebyallowing the bearing plates lI5 to be adjusted laterally with respect tothe rail head. The tips of the nozzles are then correctly positioned forheight above the tread surfaces of the rails by `loosening the thumbscrews 41 andv raising or lowering the tubular connections 42 and 43.Next, the group of nozzles 44 connected to each of the manifolds 48 and4l are properly positioned lengthwise of the rail from the extreme endthereof. 'I'his may be accomplished byturning'the handle 55, which movesthe entire operating frame B, until the fixed manifold 48 is located thedesired distance from the end of tue rail; and then the end of thepositioning screw 5l' may be turned, sliding the block 46 along theguide rods 58, to locate the manifold 4l a corresponding distance fromthe adjacent rail end.

4 In adjusting-'the elevation and position of the nozzles 44 a suitablegage may be employed, i1' desired.

Withv the nozzles properly positioned above the tread surfaces and fromthe extreme ends of the rails, the screws 31 in the arms of the yoke 36are initially adjusted. at the first rail joint to limit the oscillatoryor reciprocatory movement that can be imparted'to the noznes by' movingthe.

' to heat such parts so that uniformity of temperature in the heattreated areas is attained. I

Similar adjustments are then made for the heating unit H1. on theopposite side of themachine, moving the machine to a' rail joint intheleft hand rail R, if necessary.- The valves and pressure regulators forthe acetylene and oxygen are then adjusted to deliver said gases' at theproper pressures at the control valves 64, 65,80,v

and 8 I so as to produce flames having the proper rate of heat outputand the proper or 'desired Iquality, such as neutral or a slight excessof acetylene. Such adjustments -may be maintained substantially constantthroughout the operation of the machine, unless both heating units Haand Hr. are to be operated simultaneously, when a -readjustment would berequired. It

will be apparent that the adjustments of the gas supply at the supplycylinders will not be affected by operation of the control valvesthrough the "handles 66 or 82.

When the above described preliminary'adjustments have b'een made; thepilot burners P are lighted and the apparatus is ready for heat treatingthe rst rail joint on the right hand rail R. The push button 94 isoperated to increase the size of the pilot name and the handle or lever66 for the valves 64 and 65 is moved to its open pol -be accuratelydetermined, and, at the end of a predetermined length of time, thehandle 66 is moved to its closed position. The apparatus is I thenraised upon the wheels I9 and moved to the next rail joint in thesection of track" being treated. This joint will be located in the lefthand rail R so that the heating unit Hx. will be utilized for the next'heat treating operation. However, since the preliminary adiustments havealready been made, it is .only necessary to position the nozzles fromthe extreme ends of the rails by manipulation of the handle 55 andpositioning screw 5I. When this has been accomplished the push button84' for the heating unit Huis depressed and the handle 82 moved to openposition to light the nozzles in said unit. Oscil-` lation orreciprocation of this heating unit HL .is effected by thevsame lever 33and the entire heat, treating operation is otherwise the same as thatalready described for the heating unit Ha.

In Figs. 'I and 8 there is shown a modied construction for the primaryframe structure or disposed members IIO, connected by longitudinalhorizontally disposedbraces |'II and a plurality of verticallydisposedbraces II2. At each of the four corners of the carriage A' shoes I|3aresecured by means of bolts |I4 threadedly engaged in the ends of lthetransverse horizontally disposed members IIO. It will be noted that theshoes H3, in the present instance. are not used to form a stationarysupport for the entire machine, but, on the contrary, are primarilyprovided for they-purpose of supporting suitable extensions or bracketsat each corner of the machine. These brackets'il'l are rigidly su'pported by means of braces II'Ia and are provided with bearingportions IIB for receiving the axles of flangedwheels I |9 upon whichthe entire machine is supported and. adapted to be wheeled along thetrack. The wheels IIS are preferably mounted in roller or ball bearingsand,

as shown in Fig. 7, are insulated electricallyfromv the frame of thecarriage by suitable insulation ||8a provided about the axles in thebearing portions ||8 so that" any improper operation of the tracklsignalling system will be prevented.

To-i'ahllitate the operation of moving the apparatus along the trackupon the wheels I I9, -angularly disposed handle bars |20 may be weldedto the braces III of thefra'me A' and strengthened/by vertical supports2| and a horizontal brace |22. spaced arms.. |24 which may be secured tothe frame by means of the bolts II4, are provided at each side of themachlnedor lifting the entire apparatus from the track in order to carryfrom one place .to another.

In order to stop the apparatus in its movement, or lock it in anyadjustedposition upon a track, la specialbraking or locking device islprovided \on the forward -end of the carriage A. One satisfactory formof braking mechanism may comprise a brake lever S'I` pivotally connectedby means of a headed pivot pin 98 to each of the forward bearing membersIIB. These brakes are resiliently held 'in the position shown in Fig. 8f by recoiling springs 99 encircling the' headed pivot pins 98, but areadapted to be turned about their pivots and into contact with theadjacent rail so as to stop or hold the apparatus in any adjustedposition. Brake shoes 91a are provided on the contactingportions of eachbrake lever and insulated,v electrically therefrom in any suitablemanner. vAn eccentric sprocket |00 is rigidly secured t each brakeadjacent the pivot Ithereof and has an operating chain IOI engaging thesprocket teeth. One end ofthis chain is-rigidly connected to the insideor lower edge of the eccentric sprocket |00 in such a manner that whenthe chain is pulled about the sprocket the brake will be turned aboutits pivot and into contact with the rail. Thus, the opposite end of eachchain |0| is connected through a guide rod |02 and a spring |02a to aroller unit |03 which is adapted to slide along a tubular guide or crossarm |04 extending outwardly from either side of a vertically disposedsupporting mem- Handles |23, supported by parallel ber |15. Both thecross arm |04 and the vertically disposed supporting member |n5 arecentrally located at the front of the carriage A' and rigidly secured tothe-members Il. by means ofa plurality of braces IBG Each of the rollerunits forms part of a toggle brake actuating mechanism and is pivotallyconnected to one end of a hook-shaped link |01. 'I'he opposite hookedend of each link |01 is pivoted to one end of a double crank arm ortoggle member III which is centrally pivoted to the upper end of thevertically disposed member |05. The crank arm |08 is adapted to beactuated by an elongated handle or lever lil! which is rigidly securedthereto by means of bolts |08a and spaced therefrom by spacing bushings|0911.

In Figs. 'I and 8 the braking mechanism is shown in inoperativeposition. It will be apparent, however, that when the handle oroperating lever |29 is moved substantially 180 in aclockwise direction,the roller units |03 will be moved inwardly along the cross arm |04 soas to rotate the brake levers 91 about their pivots Il and into'flrm andsecure contact with the associated rails. It will be noted that when thecrank arm |08 and links |01 are in their inop erative position, suchparts are in a dead center position; and likewise when the handle |||9is rotated substantially 180, the parts will-again occupy asubstantially dead center position so that the brakes $1 will remain incontactwith the rails without any force being applied to the handle.When it is desired to release the brake, the handle Ill is raised andwill spring back into its inoperative position.

Except for the fact that four wheels are provided so that the apparatusmay be easilymoved alonga track, and a braking or locking mechanism isprovided to hold the carriage in any adjusted position, the heattreating apparatus including the modified carriage A' isentirely-similar to the first described apparatus comprising the primaryframe or carriage A and the operating frame structure B. Thus, shafts|28 are provided at each side of the machine for slidably receiving anoperating frame structure B, and said shafts |28 vare pivotallysupported on the upper ends of four vertically disposed supporting arms|36. Said arms |10 are pivotally mounted like the arms 3l so that theentire operating frame supported on the shafts |28 may be oscillated bymeans of a lever |33 and link |35.

If desired, a three-sided shield IIS, composed of copper or othersuitable material, may be secured to the shoes H3 at each side of themachine, as shown in dot and dash lines in Figs. 'I

and 8. Such a shield will tend to prevent the flames from spreading andthereby protect the operator andparts of the apparatus from theintenseheat produced in the two heating units.

It will be understood that if the apparatus is utilized to treat thetread surfaces of both rails simultaneously, then both heating units maybe adjusted simultaneously along the shafts |28 and likewise maybe.oscillated or reciprocated over the rail tread surfacessimultaneously by actuation of the lever |33. During such operation thecarriage A' may be moved at the desired and predetermined rate of speedby the operator. However, means may be provided for propelling thecarriage along the track, if desired. For this purpose a motor properlygeared to one of the wheels Il! would be suitable.

Various changes may be made in the construction and certain featuresthereof may be emeach rail of the track; and means vfor oscillating saidpivotally mounted supporting member so that both of said heating unitsmay be oscillated v.simultaneously over their respective rails.

2. Apparatus for heat treating tread surface areas of rails, comprisingthe combination of a carriage adapted to rest upon and be moved along atrack; a supporting member pivotally mounted on said1 carriage; heatingunits carried by said supporting member, one unit being disposed overeach rail of the track; and means for moving said supporting memberlongitudinally with respect to the rails so as to move both of saidheating units simultaneously for adjustment.

f 3. Apparatus for heat treating tread surface areas of rails,comprising the combination of a carriage adapted to rest upon and bemoved along a track; a supporting member pivotally mounted on saidcarriage; heating units carried by said supporting member, one unitbeing disposed over each rail of the track; means for moving saidsupporting member longitudinally with respect to the rails so as to moveboth of said heating units simultaneously for adjustment; and means foroscillating said pivotally mounted supporting member so that both ofsaid heating units may bjscillated simultaneously over their respectiver 4. Apparatus for heat treating tread surfacer .said heating units maybe reciprocated over the tread surfaces of the rails. x

5. Apparatus for heat treating tread surface areas of rails, comprisingthe combination of a.

' carriage adapted to rest upon and be moved along a track; an armpivotally connected to said carriage; a. supporting member pivotallymounted on said arm; heating units carried by said supporting memberwithone unit disposed over each rail of the trackmeans for moving saidsupporting member longitudinally with respect to the rail so as tolocate said heating units properly for starting a heat treatingoperation; and means for reciprocating. said pivotally mountedsupporting member so that said heating units may be lreciprocated overthe tread surfaces of the rails.

6. Apparatus for heat treating tread surface areas of rails, comprisingthe combination of a carriage adapted to rest upon and be moved along atrack; an arm pivotally connected to said carriage: a supporting memberpivotally mounted on said arm; heating units carried by said supportingmember with one unit disposed over each rail of the track; means forreciprocating said pivotally mounted supporting 'member so that Saidheating units may be reciprocated over the tread surfaces of the rails;and means cooperatvto said carriage; a supporting frame pivotally ingwith said arm forlimiting the reciprocatory movement of said heatingunits. y

7. Apparatus for heat treating tread surface areas of rails, comprisingthe combination of a carriage adapted to rest upon and be moved along atrack; aplurality of arms pivotally connected mounted on said arms;heating units carried by said supporting frame, one unit being disposedover each rail of the track; and means for oscillating said pivotallymounted supporting frame. so that both of said heating units may beoscillated simultaneously over their respective rails.

8. Apparatus for heat treating tread surface areas of rails, comprisingthe combination of a carriage adapted to rest upon and be moved along atrack, said carriage being substantially rec- .a track, said carriagebeing substantially rectangular in shape; a vertically disposedsupporting arm pivotally connected to each of the four corners of saidrectangular carriage; a shaft at each side of-said carriage andjournalled at its l ends in the adjacent supporting arms; an operatingframe slidably mounted on said shafts; a source of high temperature heatcarried by said operating frame and disposed above the tread surface ofone of the rails of the track; and means for oscillating said operatingframe so as to effect a corresponding movement in the source of hightemperature heat.

10. Apparatus for heat treating tread surface areas of rails, comprisingthe combination of a carriage adapted to rest upon and be moved along atrack, said carriage being substantially rectangular in shape; avertically disposed supporting arm pivotally connected to each of thefour corners of said rectangular carriage; a shaft at each side of saidcarriage and journalled at lts ends in the adjacent supporting arms; anoperating frame slidably mounted on said shafts; a source of hightemperature heat carried by said operating frame and disposed above thetread surface of one of the rails of the track; means for oscillatingsaid operating frame so as to effect a corresponding movement inthesource of high temperature heat; and means for moving said operatingframe along said shafts so as to position said source of heat properlyfor starting a heat treating operation.

11. Apparatus for heat treating tread surface areas of rails, comprisingthe combination of 'a carriage adapted to rest upon and be moved along atrack; said carriage being substantially rectangular in shape; avertically disposed supporting arm pivotally connected to eachl of thefour corners of said rectangular carriage; a shaft at each side of saidcarriage and journalledat its ends lin the adjacent supporting arms; anoperating frame slidably mounted on said shafts; a source of hightemperature heat carried by said` operating frame and disposed above thetread surface of one of the rails of the track; and

means for oscillating said operating frame so as to effect acorresponding movement in the source of high temperature heat, saidoscillating means comprising a-lever fulcrumed on the carriage and alink pivotally connected'at one end to said lever and at its other endtoone of the vertically disposed arms.

12. Apparatusfor heat treating tread surface areas of rails, comprising-the combination of 'a carriage adapted to rest upon and be moved alonga track, said carriage being substantially rectangular in shape; avertically disposed supporting arm pivotally connected to each of thefour corners of said rectangular carriage; a shaft at.

each side of saidcarrliage and journalled at its 'ends in the adjacentsupporting arms; an operating frame slidably mounted on said shafts; asource of high temperature heat carried by said operating frameanddisposed above the tread surface of one of the rails ofthe track;means for oscillating said operating frame so as to eiIect acorresponding movement in the source of high temperature heat, saidoscillating means comprising a lever fulcrumed on the carriage and alink pivotally connected at one end to said lever and at its other. endto one of the vertically disposed arms; and a yoke mounted onv thecarriage and having'arms disposed on either side of one of saidvsupporting arms for limiting the oscillatory movement of the'operatingframa 13. Apparatus for heat treating tread surface areasadjacent the ends of 'rails atv a rail joint,

comprising the combination of a vcarriage adapted to rest uponJandbemoved along a track; a supporting member mounted on said carriage; aheating unit carried by said supporting member and including two sourcesof vhigh temperature heat, one of said sources being fixedv with respectto said supporting member and the other-of said sources being movablelongitudinally of the rail; means for'moving said supporting memberlongitudinally/ of the rail so as to position said fixed source of heatproperlywith respect to the end'of a rail; and meansfor moving saidother above the tread surface of a rail; and means forv oscillating saidpivotally mounted supporting memberl so -as to effect a correspondingmove- .t ment in the source of high temperature heat.

15. Apparatus for heat treating tread surface areas of rails, comprisingthe combination of a carriage adapted to rest upon and be moved along onsaid carriage and adapted to be moved longitudinally of the rails withrespect to said carriage;

heating means mounted on said operating frame and including an oxy-fuelgas blowpipe disposed over each rail of the track; and gas' controllingmeans centrally mounted on said operating frame -forready access by theoperator.

PERC'IVAL HUNTER, Jn.l v

- a track; an operating frame pivotally mounted' 7

